Justice News

Fairport Woman Charged with Felony for Lying to Federal Agents

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Ann Marie Laurini, 48, of Fairport, N.Y., was charged by criminal complaint with lying to Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service. The carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Laurini repeatedly lied to IRS agents in connection with an investigation of Kenneth Griffin and others into financial fraud and money-laundering crimes. The defendant was employed by Griffin from March 2006 to May 2008, and engaged in acts that furthered the financial fraud. Laurini was interviewed by federal agents on several occasions concerning her knowledge and involvement in the fraud and during those interviews she falsely stated that she had not engaged in various acts of deception in furtherance of the fraud. The investigation ultimately resulted in charges against Kenneth Griffin, Brian Campbell, and two others, all of whom have been convicted.

“Lying to a government official is not only unacceptable but it is criminal,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Our Office will vigorously prosecute any attempts to interfere with the efforts of any federal investigation.”

IRS Special Agent in Charge Weirauch said, “Simply stated, lying to a law enforcement officer conducting an official criminal investigation undermines the pursuit of justice. For this very reason, the government considers lying to a federal agent a very serious matter and will investigate such allegations and criminally prosecute those responsible.”

Laurini made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and was released on her own recognizance. The defendant is due back in court on January 8, 2014, at 9:00 a.m.

The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Toni Weirauch, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Brian P. Boetig, Special Agent in Charge.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.